💪 How Arnold's Festival Took Over the World

Wow. Another week, another chance to improve and actually do that warm-up for a change!

(🦗🦗🦗)

Okay, enough kidding around. We've got some serious bicep-pumping, mass-building history for you today. It's about how the Arnold Sports Festival took over the world.

And we're waving goodbye to Flex Lewis' competition career. The 7-time (dang!) 212 Pound Mr. Olympia is calling it quits.

Ever wondered how Breon Ansley got those trophy-winning arms? So did we. Fortunately, he's dishing out his secrets for a grateful viewing public.

HISTORY

The Birth And Growth Of The Arnold Sports Festival

Arnold was on top of the world — and then a festival with his name practically took it over. And it only helped catapult the Austrian Oak himself to the stratosphere of entertainment stardom.  

What began as a joint bodybuilding venture between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer in 1989 has evolved into an elite multi-sport competition space and expo. The Arnold Sports Festival (ASF) is well-known to fans of bodybuilding and strongman — but it arguably transformed the face of the entire fitness industry. 

For over 30 years, the ASF has been a multi-sporting festival that welcomes everything from baton twirling to slap fighting. It’s grown from a singular bodybuilding show to a multi-day sporting phenomenon featuring about 20,000 athletes competing in over 60 events, representing 80 countries.

How exactly did it get there?

READ: The Birth And Growth Of The Arnold Sports Festival

ATHLETES

Flex Lewis Sunsets His History-Making Career

James “Flex” Lewis, the winner of seven 212 Olympia titles, is retiring from competitive bodybuilding. But like that tacky sign hanging in grandma's living room says, "Retirement is not the end of the road. It's the beginning of the open highway."

Lewis announced the news on the debut episode of his podcast, Straight Outta the Lair, on May 13, 2022. President of the Olympia, Dan Solomon, confirmed the news in an Instagram post of his own. 

"It’s time for me to hang up my posing trunks."

(If only there were some sort of competition designed to get retired bodybuilders back on stage...)

WATCH: Flex Lewis Retires from Competitive Bodybuilding

TRAINING

Breon Ansley Reveals His Arm-Building Secrets

We LOVE training arms. So does Breon Ansley.

"Hey, Breon! Want to train together some day next week? We KNOW you're reading this. Come on!"

Okay, here's what you actually came for. On May 16, 2022, two-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Breon Ansley posted a video featuring an arms training session on his YouTube channel. Ansley is currently preparing to compete in the 2022 Tampa Pro, scheduled to take place on the weekend of Aug. 4-6, 2022, in Tampa, FL. The video can be seen at the link below, and the workout starts at the 3:36 mark in the video.

READ: Breon Ansley Dishes Out Arm Training Advice Ahead Of The 2022 Tampa Pro

THE DROPSET

Everything Else Around the Web

• This one isn't really bodybuilding-related, but it's too good not to share. Our buddy Rudy Kadlub — a record-setting powerlifter — hit this 430 pound back squat double at 73 years old.

• Remember when Big Ramy and Larry Wheels faced off in armwrestling? Because we sure do.

• Blessing Awodibu has won the 2022 Indy Pro. The rising star is now qualified for the 2022 Olympia, along with Bryan Balzano and Theresa Ivancik.

We heard you like memes...